2. FLOOD PLANNING
& PREPARATION

So how can you actively plan and prepare for the worst. Every step you take to safeguard against
flooding will have its benefits, no matter how small.

As a start, here is a basic idea of some of the pointers to keep in mind if you live in a high-risk
flood region:

Have an emergency flood kit ready: Floods can leave you stranded for days on end whilst the
emergency services struggle to deal with the larger problem. Roads may be impassable immediately
after a flood too. As such, it makes sense to have a flood preparation kit ready to use should your
home be affected. In an emergency kit, include waterproof clothes, bottled water, non-perishable
food and medication.

Always charge your mobile phone: Ensure it’s a habit to charge your mobile phone daily and if it’s
not on you, keep it upstairs and safe from flood risk areas.

Be prepared: There are often flood warnings for specific areas, but unfortunately on occasions a
flood can sweep though quickly. Make sure you know how to turn off the utilities such as gas,
electricity and water, so you’re prepared no matter when a flood strikes.

Take immediate action: If you haven’t invested in flood safety measures and your area is on high
alert, take action to limit the damage the impending flood will cause. You can quickly get hold of
sandbags, flood sacks and door guards to keep water out of your home at short notice. Phone your
local council for assistance with this.

What To Consider When Protecting Your Property

There are various measures to protect your home from flooding and what’s recommended or necessary will
depend on the risk assessment of the property. As mentioned previously, a good place to start is the
Environment Agency’s flood map. If your property is located in a high-risk area you should take
immediate action. Even if your region isn’t shaded, it’s important to still have an idea of how you can
plan to deal with problems.

A basic flood plan is essential; whilst it’s also worthwhile considering flood prevention measures when
carrying out any renovation work. This will work out to be a cheaper solution and makes the
implementation of protection measures easier.

Once you’ve made a decision to invest in flood protection measures, your next step is determining the
right solution for your property. There is a range of options to choose from and the exact solutions
will be outlined in greater detail later in this guide. According to the Department for Environment,
Food & Rural Areas (Defra) statistics, a house flood costs between £10,000 and £50,000 to repair
dependent on the depth of water, meaning flood prevention measures are very cost effective. But
alongside the cost, the time (usually up to 12 months) to get your life back on track can be
devastating.

A Defra spokesperson said: “While resilient repairs were found to be more expensive than traditional
methods (average 34% higher) they were found to significantly reduce the repair costs assuming a
subsequent flood were to take place.

“Resilient flood mitigation measures will help in limiting the cost of repairs up to as much as 73% for
properties with a 20% annual chance of flooding. The up-front investment would be recovered following a
single subsequent flood event.”

Creating A Flood Plan

For properties in high-risk flood areas, devising a flood plan can help you to better make decisions in
the event of a crisis. You can download your own flood plan from the Environment Agency:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/38329.aspx

There are some takeaway points to ensure though:

Make sure you have a list of emergency contact numbers to hand. This includes relatives, friends
and even the insurance company.

Double check you have the right home insurance, which covers your property in the event of a flood.
Read the small print and ensure not to be caught out.

Be sure to know how to switch off utilities such as gas, electricity and water. A flood can strike
at anytime, so even in the dark you should know where the respective switches are.

Have an emergency kit kept in a safe place. This would include waterproofs, food, water and
medication.

If you live in a flood risk area, put important documents in a safe and secure place, preferably on
the upper floors of your home and in dry polythene bags.

Consider how you would act during a flood warning. You’ll want to quickly move valued possessions
such as your vehicle, to a safe place.

Have an action plan to implement with your family in the event of a flood. If you become separated
you’ll know how to contact one another.

Emergency Kit

Insurance documents, other important documents

Insurance emergency helpline, local council and emergency services numbers, family & friends telephone numbers, local radio frequencies

Camera (disposable) to record damage for insurance purposes

Emergency cash

Assessing The Dangers Of Flooding

Now it’s time to assess the potential dangers of flooding in your area to determine which flood
protection measures are indeed the best for your home. There are many factors to take into account in
this regard and because of this, a different flood protection measure could be better for one property
over another, depending on the vulnerability of the building.

Remember, what’s discussed below should only be taken as general guidance and advice. For a better idea
of flood protection it’s important to seek out the experience of a flood specialist who’ll be able to
tailor protection to your property.

In order to find the perfect flood protection for your building you’ll need to identify the flood risk
and source. This could be a river, the sea, reservoirs, groundwater, surface water, sewers or a mains
water supply. Remember, if your gutters aren’t clear, they may overflow and cause significant damage to
your home.

You’ll also need to assess the depth expected in the event of a flood. Low flood depths are unlikely to
risk lives, but can still cause damage to properties. High flood depths can not only cause extensive
damage, but also put lives in danger. There’s also the consideration that it can be dangerous to keep
large volumes of water out of the home – Because of a build-up in pressure.

By highlighting some of the above, you and the specialist will come to the conclusion of whether your
property requires temporary flood defence (whereby water will sit for just a few hours) or extensive
defence to prevent water coming into your home over a longer period of days and even weeks.

Temporary & Permanent Flood Resistance

There are two types of flood defence, temporary and permanent. If your area has a particularly high
flood risk you’ll need to put measures in place to fully protect the property from water damaging the
building and its contents.

Flood resistance measures include upgrading areas such as the walls, drainage and floors to ensure
floodwater is kept out in the event of a crisis. There are also flood resilience measures to consider,
which help to remove floodwater and dry out the property quicker in the aftermath. This helps to
reinstate the building.

For both temporary and permanent flood defence you’ll need the services of a competent building surveyor
who’ll assess your property and recommend the appropriate protection.

Protection measures will be recommended for certain areas of the property. Below we detail a few of the
more common flood prevention methods:

For the airbricks

When considering airbricks, there are a few options to take into account. These include but are not limited to:

Protective covers screwed into the wall

Fixtures, which protective measures can be clipped to

Airbrick replacements, which self activate in the event of a flood.

For the doorways

Doorways should also be protected from flooding as water can easily come through and spread into the
home. Therefore, doorway flood protection is essential and also relatively easy to fit if there’s a
flood warning or you’re expecting torrential rain.

You could also consider replacing the front door with a BSI Kitemark equivalent that’ll better protect
from flooding. Of course, this ensures your property is safe, even if you’re away.

Other common flood protection products

Floodwater won’t just come through the front door or airbricks though and many people experiencing a
flood often remark the first signs were wet carpets. Pumps underneath the flooring will help to keep
water levels down.

Water can also back up through the drainage system and enter your home via pipework. An anti back flow
valve would be efficient to prevent this, stopping floodwater from entering the property. Toilets can
also allow in floodwater and if necessary should be blocked off with towels.

Even cracked mortar on your home’s exterior is an easy access route for floodwater, so ensure this is
all repaired with adequate sealant.Floodwater won’t just come through the front door or airbricks though
and many people experiencing a flood often remark the first signs were wet carpets. Pumps underneath the
flooring will help to keep water levels down.

Water can also back up through the drainage system and enter your home via pipework. An anti back flow
valve would be efficient to prevent this, stopping floodwater from entering the property. Toilets can
also allow in floodwater and if necessary should be blocked off with towels.

Even cracked mortar on your home’s exterior is an easy access route for floodwater, so ensure this is
all repaired with adequate sealant.